Improvement in grain-movers



W. MOSES,

Y GRAIN ovmf No. 52,309 I Patented Jan. 30, 1866;

being shown in section.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM MOSES, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN-.MOVERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 52,309, dated January30, 1866'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Moses, of the city of Buffalo, in the countyof Eric and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Apparatus for Moving and Handling Grain in Bulk; and I dohereby declare that the following is afull and exact descriptionthereof,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of thisspecification, in which- Figure l is-a view, in elevation, of theapparatus which I employ, the portable portion Fig. 2 is a view of thesweeping-nozzle G, shown detached.

My invention, which I denominate a portable grain-mover, is designed tosu persede the moving of grain by shoveling, by manual labor, in theholds of vessels, in warehouses, and other situations where it is heldin bulk; and it consistsin the employmentof condensed air forcedthrough'an eduction-nozzle into a portable section of 'tubi-n g or otherconductor by means of a condensing-pump or other suitable engine, sothat the force of the blast, at its discharge, shall convey the grain,into which the receiving end is immersed, or in contact with, throughthe conductor and'discharge it at the opposite end; and, also,connecting said nozzle and conductor with the condensing- .pn'mpby'means of a flexible hose or tubing,

whereby the instrument is made portable and adapted to carrying into anypart of the hold of avessel, while the compressed air is supplied fromstationary machinery on the adjoining dock or warehouse or vessel; and,also,

in the application of a cock forregulating the force of the discharge toadapt it to heavier or lighter grains; and, further, in the employ-.ment of a nozzle, specially constructed for sweeping the loose grainalong the floor to a place of delivery after the bulk has been removed.

As represented in the drawings, A is'a conductor-pipe, preferably madeof metal, having one of its ends enlarged to facilitate the entrance ofgrain.

B is an air-tube, bent to that its dischargenozzleapproaches or entersthe mouth of the conductor.- This pipe is preferably placed beside theconductor and connected. therewith by the stay-rods G 0, by which it isrendered compact and portable, but is not necessarily confined to thisform, as other arrangements will operate'ns efliciently, though may beless conveniently used. Connected with the tube B is a flexible hose, H,of leather, india-rubber,

or other suitable material, which extends to the pnm p or engine fromwhich the compressed airis received. A cock,- E, is provided, wherebythe operator can regulate and control the force of the blast to adapt itto grain of different gravities and insure its most efficient anduniform action.

Its operation is as follows: The air being let on by opening the cock E,the mouth of the conductor A is applied to the surface of the pile ormass of grain, or immersed therein, and the opposite end directed towardthe place of delivery, which, in unloading grain in the hold of vessels,would be the position where the leg of a mechanical elevator wasintroduced through a hatchway. The force of the air discharged from thenozzle of B-propels the grain through the conductor with a rapidityproportionate to the pressure of the blast, which may vary from a fewounees to as many pounds pressure as are required for rapid execution.

Its action being continuous and rapid, a

.llarger amount can be passed through a smallsized'conductor in a giventime than could be moved by a great number of handshovelers, while thelength of the conductor may be sufficient to convey it over an extentthat would require a number of shovelers in'line to accomplish.

lts perfect portability enables it to be easily carried into all partsof a vessel and to remove grain from spaces too small to be operated inwith a shovel, while by its use the operator is less exposed to thestilling atmosphere of the hold of a vessel and the dust of the grain,the latter being blown from him and the former ineasurably'replaced byair introduced by the pump. When thebulk ot'the grain has been withdrawnthat which is left scattered on ,thefloor and in corners is sweptcleanly to the place of delivery by the use of thesweeping-nozzle G,

Fig. 2, which is'connected either to the end of the conductor A or tothe hose, and applying it near the floor. It is constructed with a longand narrow slot in the transverse .head G, by which the air isdischarged in a broad sheet, so as to drive loose kernels of grain,dust, &c., before. it, leaving the floor cleanly swept.

I do not confine myself to any particular form of pump mechanism tocondense the air for this purpose, as there are many kinds which willprobably answer equally well, or nearly so.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l.' The employment of a direct blast of compressed air, in combinationwith the portable tube'A, or its equivalent, for conveying anddischarging grain, substantially as set'forth.

2. In combination with the air-nozzle B and conductor A, the flexiblehose H, whereby the apparatus is rendered portable and independent ofthe engine which supplies the condensed air, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

WILLIAM MOSES.

Witnesses DAVID BELL. J. FRASER, L. P. PERKINS.

